This course will examine the art of Japan from primarily the 1960s to today, with some consideration of artistic movements that arose after World War II such as the Gutai Bijutsu Kyokai (Gutai Art Association).We will study various groups and individual artists who respond to natural materials and spiritual sources that have long been a part of the traditional Japanese aesthetic, such as the Mono-ha group, to movements that reflect a dialogue with the global context of avant-garde art.We will explore the unique qualities of many contemporary Japanese artists’ works that reference the legacy of Japanese art history while creating a dynamic interplay with such popular cultural phenomena as manga and anime.Discussions will focus on issues of nationalism, cultural memory, spatiality, temporality, Western influences, imaging violence and cuteness, gender, and popular culture.

In this course we will examine art produced in Japan from prehistoric to modern times.Painting, prints, ceramics, sculpture, and architecture will be examined to some extent in a chronological sequence, but often by topics concerned with a dominant theme or type of art.Throughout the course, we will be taking into consideration the various social, religious, and cultural contexts under which the art was produced.